The spot is numbed with an injection - the only painful moment - then a small sample is removed by shave, punch, or excision.
Shave removes surface layers, punch cores a deeper round sample, and excision removes the whole spot. Larger samples get a stitch or two; the lab returns results within days to a couple of weeks.
What to do
Common questions
What happens at a skin biopsy?
A skin biopsy removes a small sample of a suspicious spot so a lab can examine it, and the visit is quick. The provider cleans the area and injects a local anesthetic - the only part that hurts, a brief sting - so you feel no pain during the procedure itself. Then comes one of three techniques: a shave biopsy, where a razor-like tool removes the surface layers; a punch biopsy, where a small round tool cores out a deeper sample; or an excisional biopsy, where the entire spot is cut out with a scalpel. Larger samples get a stitch or two; smaller ones just get pressure to stop the bleeding and a bandage. The sample goes to a lab and results typically return within days to a couple of weeks. Afterward, keep the site clean and bandaged as directed and watch for signs of infection - spreading redness, warmth, pus, or fever. Pymander, a free AI doctor available 24/7 by text, can help you understand the biopsy report when it arrives.